Porsche 911 Speedster arrives +Video

The 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster will debut at the Paris Motor Show. Based on 911 Cabriolet with power from the 911 GTS, just 356 are being built.

We were beginning to think that Porsche would keep the Porsche 911 Speedster under wraps until the Paris Motor Show kicks off proper next week. But in the end they couldn’t resist unveiling the big brother to the Porsche Boxster Spyder (a Speedster in all but name) with a week to go ’til Paris.

We’ve been expecting the first 911 Speedster from Porsche in almost a generation since we first reported back in June that we would see the Porsche 911 Speedster rocking in for Paris, along with the 911 GTS. We had the 911 GTS last week so all we have left to get detail on from our June story is a Cayman Spyder.

The 911 Speedster comes much as expected. It gets the extra power the new 911 GTS gets (that’s 402bhp and 310lb’ft of torque) and is based on the latest 911 Cabriolet complete with wider wheel housings. The windscreen is more steeply raked – and it’s shorter than in other 911s – and of course the double-bubble hump we know from the last 911 Speedster. Standard kit will include Ceramic Brakes, PDK and adaptive damping

Just like its little brother – the Boxster Spyder – it’s probably best to think of the 911 Speedster as a California car. Not just because of the James Dean connotations (although Dean didn’t actually kill himself in a Speedster, contrary to popular belief), but because the 911 Speedster gets the same sort of flimsy, origami-looking roof as the Boxster Spyder. It’ll do the job if pushed, but the 911 Speedster is a sunshine car.

In essence the 911 Speedster is a ‘Limited Edition’ Porsche, released to celebrate 25 years of Porsche Exclusive (which is how Porsche relieves buyers of big chunks of cash for ‘Personalisation’).

So the Speedster gets some input from Porsche Exclusive with an extra chin spoiler, blackened headlight surrounds, tinted indicators lenses and GT3-look air vents behind the back wheel arches. The interior also sports black leather and key elements from Porsche’s Exclusive range.

Just 356 Porsche 911 Speedsters are being built and the Euro price is €200k+, which means the 911 Speedster will probably arrive in the UK with an OTR price approaching £150k – GT2 RS territory.

And if that’s not enough, we’ve been hearing rumours that Porsche are also planning a 911 Super Speedster based on the Turbo Cabriolet. Which will cost even more.